The wining artist will be announced on Friday, January 4, but the top five artists will be revealed, counting down one each day, from New Year's Eve.

Previous winners have included Jessie J, Ellie Goulding and Adele. 2012's winner was North London soul singer Michael Kiwanuka.

Soloists who made it to the longlist are 18-year-old pop act A*M*E, 20-year-old south Londoner Arlissa, who already has recorded with US hip-hop master Nas, and classically-trained soul singer Laura Mvula from Birmingham.

Also competing for a place on the shortlist is 22-year-old singer-songwriter Tom Odell, American rapper Angel Haze, Canadian alt-R&B act The Weeknd and British singer songwriter and producer King Krule, who is the youngest act on the list at just 17 years old.

[Solo artists A*M*E and Arlissa]

The bands battling to be named Sound of 2013 winner are synth-pop band Chvrches, hailing from Glasgow, Dublin four-piece Kodaline and indie band Palma Violets, whose first single 'Best of Friends' has already been named number one in NME's Best Tracks of 2012.

Also competing for the prestigious title are Birmingham indie band Peace with their tropical sound, Californian sister trio Haim and Irish country rock band Little Green Cars.

[Bands Kodaline and Peace]

Huw Stephens will be announcing the winner on his Radio 1 show on January 4.

The DJ expressed his excitement at the longlist: "This year's Sound of 2013 longlist is an exciting and vibrant one, which I think bodes well for the year ahead. It's always a varied list that surprises people, causes debate and speculation about the state of the music scene.

"For me, it's an exciting time of year, where we don't really know what the year will bring with new music, but this helps give people an indication of what might sound good."

Huw will be presenting a Sound of 2013 Special, featuring music from all of the acts on the list, on Monday (December 10) at 10pm on BBC Radio 1.